Aerosol valve

ABSTRACT

An aerosol valve which utilizes a double concentric dip tube with the inner tube shorter or of several telescoping parts which open or close depending upon the orientation of the container to hold between them a sufficient reservoir of liquid product to allow a prolonged discharge while the container is in an inverted position.

United States Patent Ewald [451 Apr. 25, 1972 AEROSOL VALVE 72 inventor: Ronald F. Ewald, Rolling Meadows, m.

[73] Assignee: Seaquist Valve Corporation, Division of Pittway Corporation, Cary, ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1969 [21] App1.No.: 879,260

[52] US. Cl ..222/402.l8, ZZZ/402.19, 222/464 [51) ..B65d 83/14 [58] Field of Search ..222/402.19, 523, 398, 379, ZZZ/402.1, 402.16, 461, 524, 526, 564, 464, 500, 402.25, 402.2, 402.18; 138/120, 155

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,503,539 3/1970 ODonnell ..222/402.1 X

Frangos ..222/402. 1 8 X Samuel ..222/402.19

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska Attorney-Stefan M. Stein 57 ABSTRACT An aerosol valve which utilizes a double concentric dip tube with the inner tube shorter or of several telescoping parts which open or close depending upon the orientation of the container to hold between them a sufficient reservoir of liquid product to allow a prolonged discharge while the container is in an inverted position.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3,658,215

SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR.

RONALD F. EWALD ATTORNEY.

AEROSOL VALVE This invention relates to an aerosol dispenser having a unique valve and more particularly to an aerosol valve having a unique dip tube structure to allow discharge of the container in an inverted position while providing against initial release of vaporous propellant due to separation.

Aerosol dispensers usually consist of a container under super-atmospheric pressure with a valve at the upper end thereof to control discharge of the product. The. valve .is generally manually operable and of the type which is biased to seal the discharge opening when the aerosol container is not in use. A dip tube is generally provided which extends downwardly to a point adjacent the container bottom.

In such aerosol dispensers, the gaseous propellant normally occupies the space in the container at thetop, around the valve. This space is commonly referred to inthetrade asthe head space. The liquid product and liquidpropellant normally occupy the container beneath the head space.

The container, in normal operation, is usually held in an upright position, with the lower end of the dip tube submerged in the liquid product. The valve is opened by simple finger pressure on an operating button or actuator. When the valve is open, the internal pressure of the gaseous propellant on the surface of the liquid product forces the product and even some of the liquid propellant up the dip tube and out the valve as an aerosol spray. Since the lower open end of the dip tube is located at the bottom of the container, the discharge of the product with some liquid propellant will be continuous until the product is exhausted, at which time gaseous propellant, if any is left, will be expelled.

It is not always convenient to keep an aerosol container in a near upright condition during use. With valves of the above described type and when the container is inverted, the bottom of the dip tube extends into the gaseous form of propellant which has meanwhile occupied the space near the bottomof the inverted container. The propellant will be rapidly dissipated if the valve is held open and the aerosol product willbe useless because of lack of sufficient internal pressure to force it out.

The expulsion of propellant gas may also be dangerous if flammable propellant such as butane isused.

Another disadvantage after invertedoperationis that gaseous propellant usually remains within the dip tube and must be bled from the valve before the aerosol container will again discharge product. If the propellant is flammable, flashback may occur upon next actuation of the valve.

Since it is desirable to have an aerosol container which can be used in the upright as well as the inverted position, without the above enumerated disadvantages, modifications have been made in valve construction.

Prior art attempts usuallyinvolve modification of the valve body to allow communication of the head space and the interior of the valve when the container is in the inverted position.

These prior art attempts and others all substantially increase the complexity of the valve structure and hence, are more expensive to manufacture. The end result is that aerosol containers which can be used in an inverted position are significantly more costly.

It is an object of this invention to provide an aerosol dispenser which may be used for short durations in a disoriented position without the loss of the gaseous propellant.

Another object is to provide an aerosol dispenser which may be used in an inverted position even though its valve-is of standard construction.

Still another object is to provide an'aerosol dispenser which may be used in an inverted position without a quantity of -unmixed gaseous propellant also escaping.

A further object is to provide an invertable aerosol container in which the cost of manufacture is comparable to that of the standard uninvertable aerosolcontainer.

Another object is to provide an aerosol .which has a shaker means therein.

Other objects of the invention will'in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing an aerosol container with a valve having a reservoir about its dip tube tail to provide a substantial supply of productto the valve when the container is used in an inverted position. In a first embodiment (FIGS. 1 8L 2) the reservoir comprises an extended dip tube tail on the valve which extends toward the mid portion of the container and surrounding which is a relatively large diameter jumbo dip tube which is attached to the valve body and extends to the bottom of the aerosol container.

In a second embodiment (FIG. 3) the reservoir comprises an inner dip tube afiixed to the dip tube tail of the valve and which extends toward the mid portion of the container and a 5 jumbo dip tube on the valve body.

In a third embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5) the reservoir comprises at least two telescoping dip tubes which are slidable with respect to each other and which are adapted to telescope in and out in response to the pull of gravity thereby making the length of thedip tube variable depending upon the orientation of the container. A jumbo dip tube is attached to the valve body and surrounds the telescoping dip tube.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the valve of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows the valve of FIG. 1 in the inverted position.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the valve of FIG. 4 in the inverted position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical dispenser upon which the invention may be used is illustrated and consists of a container '10 having a closed bottom 12 with a mounting cup 14 which carries a valve 16. The valve 16 is contained within the customary central turret portion of the mounting cup and comprises a valve body 18, sealing means 20, a tubular valve stem 22 protruding through the sealing means, and a valve stem sealer 24, spring biased in a sealing position by valve spring 26. The spring 26 is compressed between the sealer 24 and a shelf 28 in the interior of the valve body. The stem 22 protrudes upwardly out of the container and has affixed thereto a valve button 30.

The valve body 18 is somewhat extended at its lower end and has a dip tube tail 32 of extra length. A vapor tap 34 extends. between the exterior of the dip tube tail 32 and the interior of the valve body 18. Its purpose will be explained hereinafter.

Mounted on and depending from the exterior of valve body 18 is a jumbo dip tube 36 of relatively large diameter. The space it encloses is a supplemental reservoir for product whereby the dispenser may be operated while being held in an inverted or substantially upside down position for short periods of time. As can be seen from FIG. 2, in an inverted position some product 38 is trapped within the jumbo dip tube 36. If the valve is actuated, that is opened, this trapped product will flow out through the dip tube tail 32, through the valve body 18, around the upset valve stem sealer 24, through the tubular valve stem 22 and out button 30. It will flow by reason of gravity, but mostly because of the pressure of the gaseous propellant within the container 10.

Such flow will continue until-the level of product reaches the bottom of dip tube tail 32 (as seen in FIG. 2). Then the valve body '18 as well as'the space between the jumbo dip tube 36 and the dip tube tail 32 via vapor tap 34 will be emptied. Such is sufficient to construe the dispenser as an invertable aerosol dispenser for use with oven sprays, tile cleaners, household sprays, shoe sprays, hair sprays and similar products which require manipulation to properly apply the product.

When the dispenser is righted, mixed product-propellant will remain in the dip tube 36, dip tube tail 32 and valve body 18 because of the pressure of gaseous propellant 42. The valve of this invention also has provision for product separation where the propellant may be flammable. As seen in FIG. 1, with product separation, there will be product concentrate 38 in the lower portion of the container 10, with liquid propellant 40, as a top layer and vaporous propellant 42 above the liquid propellant. Should the propellant be flammable, and with product separation, an initial spurt of flammable vapor could occur upon first actuation of the valve. However, as seen in FIG. 1, the separated propellant, both vapor and liquid, will be trapped between extra length dip tube tail 32 and jumbo dip tube 36. The vapor and liquid will be bled off slowly through vapor tap 34 and blended with product concentrate 38 in valve body 18 upon first actuation instead of an initial spurt of such flammable vapor and liquid.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment is shown wherein the valve body 18 and the extra length dip tube tail 32 of the first embodiment is somewhat modified. The valve body 18 is shorter and its dip tube tall 32 accommodates a small diameter capillary dip tube 44 which extends downwardly to about the midpoint of the jumbo dip tube 36. In addition to vapor tap 34, a second type of vapor tap 46 may be provided to aid in the slow release of vaporous propellant or even liquid propellant in the event of product separation. It is shown as a longitudinal channel on the inside of the dip tube tail 32, one side of which is closed by dip tube 44.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a third embodiment is shown wherein the valve body 18 has a skirt 48 secured thereto upon which the upper end of jumbo dip tube 36 is mounted. Also, the dip tube tail 32 has an outwardly extending annular flange 9 which acts as a stop for inwardly extending annular flange 50 of a telescoping freely slidable pair of inner dip tubes 52. The tubes are adapted to slide with respect to each other in response to gravity as the valve is inverted, as seen in FIG. 5.

The operation of the third embodiment is basically similar to that of the first two embodiments. The advantage of a telescoping inner dip tube is that a telescoping tube in an inverted, telescoped position enables better and more complete emptying ofthe jumbo dip tube.

Also, in the upright position, and with an extra large jumbo dip tube, such as one approximately one-half or more of the diameter of the container, by using a telescoping dip tube which extends to the bottom of the can, better emptying of the container will occur.

It is also within the contemplation of the instant invention that the telescoping dip tube embodiment could be used without a jumbo dip tube, whereby liquid product could be almost completely expelled even while using the dispenser completely in an inverted position.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described:

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising in combination, a container for liquid under pressure with a valve which seals said container, said valve having a dip tube tall with reservoir means in open communication with the container and axially aligned about said tail to provide a substantial supply of product to said valve when said aerosol dispenser is utilized in an inverted position and said valve is actuated, said reservoir means comprises said dip tube tail in extended form to a mid point in said container with an open jumbo dip tube fixed to the body of said valve and extending toward the bottom of said container and in close proximity thereto.

2. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dip tube tail includes a short length dip tube extending to a mid point in said container with an open jumbo dip tube fixed to the body of said valve and extending toward the bottom of said container and in close proximity thereto.

3. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said valve body has a vapor tap extending between the exterior of said dip tube tail and the interior of said valve body which provides continuous communication between the interior of said valve body and the interior of said jumbo dip tube above the lower extreme of said dip tube tail.

4. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dip tube tail includes at least two telescoping dip tubes which are adapted to slidably move relative to each other in response to the orientation of said container.

5. A valve for an aerosol container comprising in combination, a valve body, a valve stem extending out of said body, biasing means for said valve stem, sealer means for said valve body and said valve stem, said stem protruding through said sealing means, and means to affix said valve to said container, said valve body having a dip tube tail with reservoir means in open communication with the container and axially aligned about said tail to provide a substantial supply of product to said valve when said valve is utilized in an inverted position and said valve is actuated, said reservoir means comprising said dip tube tail in extended form with a longer length open jumbo dip tube affixed to the body of said valve, said valve 

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising in combination, a container for liquid under pressure with a valve which seals said container, said valve having a dip tube tail with reservoir means in open communication with the container and axially aligned about said tail to provide a substantial supply of product to said valve when said aerosol dispenser is utilized in an inverted position and said valve is actuated, said reservoir means comprises said dip tube tail in extended form to a mid point in said container with an open jumbo dip tube fixed to the body of said valve and extending toward the bottom of said container and in close proximity thereto.
 2. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dip tube tail includes a short length dip tube extending to a mid point in said container with an open jumbo dip tube fixed to the body of said valve and extending toward the bottom of said container and in close proximity thereto.
 3. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said valve body has a vapor tap extending between the exterior of said dip tube tail and the interior of said valve body which provides continuous communication between the interior of said valve body and the interior of said jumbo dip tube above the lower extreme of said dip tube tail.
 4. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1 wherein said dip tube tail includes at least two telescoping dip tubes which are adapted to slidably move relative to each other in response to the orientation of said container.
 5. A valve for an aerosol container comprising in combination, a valve body, a valve stem extending out of said body, biasing means for said valve stem, sealer means for said valve body and said valve stem, said stem protruding through said sealing means, and means to affix said valve to said container, said valve body having a dip tube tail with reservoir means in open communication with the container and axially aligned about said tail to provide a substantial supply of product to said valve when said valve is utilized in an inverted position and said valve is actuated, said reservoir means comprising said dip tube tail in extended form with a longer length open jumbo dip tube affixed to the body of said valve, said valve body having a vapor tap extending between the interior of said valve body and the interior of said jumbo dip tube above the lower extreme of said dip tube tail.
 6. The valve of claim 5 wherein said dip tube tail includes a short length dip tube.
 7. The valve of claim 6 wherein said short length dip tube tail includes at least two telescoping dip tubes which are adapted to slidably move relative to each other in response to the orientation of said valve. 